Time to go to Dinner. I went down into the Hall where I had fupped the Night before; the rest of the Boarders repaired thither likewife, and placed themselves at Table. Though I expected a very frugal Repaft, the Meat ferved up at the Table far furpaffed my Expectation. The firft Dish they entertain'd us with was a Soupe, refembling that given to Hounds, to preferve their Scent; it was very clear and had fome mufty Crufts of Bread floating in it. Every one had a Mefs of this in a Porringer, with which he stuffed himself very heartily, and I likewife emptied my Porringer, though I had not yet bit of the Bridle, and found myself fo fatisfied with this good Soupe de Santé, that I could not finish the rest of my Allowance. It was however a Tit-bit, being aFricaffee of Goats Trotters, wherein I believe they had put the very Horns, it cracked fo between the Teeth. As to the reft of the Boarders, who were tortured with continual Hunger, they fwallowed the Fricaffee fo greedily, that it disappear'd in the Twinkling of an Eye.

After this Dinner, which, without doubt, was not the worst dreffed at the House of Doctor Canizarez, I went into the City to buy Linen, and fuch Books as I wanted, to profecute my

Studies

Studies; and having bought all that was neceffary I had only twenty Doublons remaining in my Pnrfe. Chear up, honest Eftevanille, fays I to myself, methinks your Cafh goes at a fine Rate. You will anfwer me, the twenty double Pistoles remaining, is a confiderable Sum; when that is gone I will have recourse to my Diamond Ring. Agreed, it is a very good Shift, but anfwer me freely, do you understand Jewels? you know very well you do not; and must confefs that you will be greatly disappointed, if the Ring, which you fet a high Price upon, fhould prove to be of fmall Value.

This last Reflection gave me an Uneafinefs, that I was willing to get rid of as foon as poffible, and therefore repaired to the great Square, which is inhabited by the richest Merchants. Here I went into a Jeweller's House, and fhewing my Brilliant, asked him the Value of it upon his Confcience, who, when he had examined it, valued it at a hundred Pistoles, and then asked me whether it was to be fold. I told him no, but in all Appearance, it would be in a little Time. Well, faid he, when you have a Mind to part with it, bring it to me, and you fhall have the hundred Pistoles. I went from the Jeweller very joyful, looking upon myself as

rich as Crafus, returned home full of the most agreeable Thoughts.

Signior Gonzalez, fays the Doctor, to me upon my Arrival, I have spoke to the Profeffor of the Third Clafs, who, upon my Certificate of your Capacity, is willing to receive you into it without Examination, and you may go to the College when you please, which I did as foon as I had my new Clothes. Signior Canizarez went with me one Morning to the University, and conducted me to the Chamber of the Licentiate, Guttierez Hofti gador, Matter of the third Class, who received us with an haughty Air of Gravity. I never faw Conceitednefs fo strongly painted in the Face of a Pedant, as in the Countenance of this Licentiate. Sir, fays Signior Canizares, this is the young Man who is to increase the Number of your Scholars. Then Guttierez, putting his Hand upon my Head, fpoke in this Manner: Young Man if you are diligent and love your Studies, we fhall have a good Understanding between us, but if you are idle and unlucky, I declare, I fhall fhew you foul Play.

I affured the Licentiate that I would ufe my utmoft Endeavours to please him s upon that Condition, faid he, you may enter into my Clafs this Morning, and all C

that

that I recommend to you, is, to be attentive to every Syllable I fpeak, for I fay nothing but what is worthy your Obfervation, and then took his Leave of us. Doctor Canizarez went home, and I joined the Scholars, who were walking in the great Court where the Claffes are, and entered into the Third at a proper Time. As a new Comer, I placed myself, with a very modeft Air, at the lower End of the Bench, and, to attract the Good-will of my Governor, heard him with all the Attention he had recommended to me.

I fhall never forget the profound Silence of his Clafs as foon as he appeared, and when he was exalted in his Chair, was furprised at his arrogant Deportment. The Great Mogul, feated upon his Throne, appears with lefs Haughtinefs and Pride than this Pedant, upon whom I conftantly fixed my Eyes. He kept his Scholars in Awe, and was fo very rigid and fevere, that they were in continual Dread before him. He was hot fatisfied with making himfelf feared and refpected by his Clafs, but if he happened to be in the Court belonging to the College, and any one of his Difciples, for want of Thought or otherwife, neglected to falute him, he would: call to him with an imperious Air, Hey! Friend! where is your Hat? And if the

a

Scholar

"

Scholar did not return him an Answer that fatisfied his Vanity, he order'd his Lictors, that is to fay, his Ufhers, who always attended him, to lay hold of him, and drag him to his Clafs, where they foon let him know that he had but one Button to his Breeches.

CHA P. IV.

Of the fudden Progress he made in the BellesLettres; how his Love for Study came to facken; and of his Proceedings after be left the University.

N°

Otwithstanding this Profeffor's Severity, I ftudied under him for fix Months, and became one of his best Scholars; and in Truth I employed my Time fo well, that I could not fail, of improving in the Belles-Lettres. I was not fatisfied with doing my Duty in the Clafs, but read the beft Authors, which Doctor Canizarez took Care to make me understand, by his learned Commentaries upon the Text, fo that I improved, as much at home as at the College.

Notwithstanding my Application to my Studies, I went fometimes to take a Walk upon the Banks of the River Formes which

C 2